Jadeveon Clowney finally had the season everyone expected when he was selected first overall in the 2014 draft.

As a result, he leapt into the upper half of the Top 100 Players of 2017, landing at No. 49. Now, his position coach is showering even higher praise — immortal, even — on the edge-rushing dynamo, saying Clowney has Hall of Fame potential. Clowney isn’t taking that lightly as he aims to build upon his 2016 success.

“It meant a lot to me,” Clowney said Tuesday of defensive line coach Anthony Weaver’s praise, via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “He sees the work I’ve put in from two years of being injured to the next year to the year after. All the guys around my team tell me to keep improving and keep getting better and come back for another great season this year. Continue reading →

It’s an honor to be included among the league’s best 100. But when you make the final 10 of TheTop 100 Players of 2017, that’s when things get special.

Feel those goosebumps? There’s a good chance some of the players listed below are experiencing the same sensation as they learn of their ranking. The anticipation is nearing its peak. Let’s jump right into the top 10 players of this year’s Top 100.Continue reading →

We’re inside the final 20 of the Top 100 Players of 2017, which is where things really start to get fun. And my, how a year can change everything.

That was the prevailing sentiment as the Oakland Raiders sprinted to a Wild Card berth and looked like a legitimate Super Bowl contender until Derek Carr was cut down by a broken leg. Oakland washed away the sins of a decade of putrid football in returning to the playoffs for the first time since the 2002 season, with much of the credit due to Carr. It’s no surprise, then, that the quarterback is in this Top 100 ranking, just as he was the year prior.

While running backs are cast off upon reaching 30, and veterans at other positions start to decline after hitting the big 3-0, the 31-year-old Quin thinks he’s still in his prime — and is looking for a payday to match it.

Quin joined the Lions on a five-year, $23.5 million deal in 2013, signed at age 27 when defensive backs are considered to be at their peak. Quin is aging gracefully, though, which he credits to the nature of his position. Continue reading →

Odell Beckham spent last week shooting down suggestions that his absence from Giants OTAs had to do with money.

Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier, who didn’t miss OTAs, decided to take a more proactive approach to what he sees as a lack of opportunity for first-round picks. Shazier, the 15th overall selection in the 2014 draft class that also included Beckham and Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, believes the next collective bargaining agreement should allow for more wiggle room on rookie contracts. Continue reading →